right of the army of the James, their object being to distract the
attention of General Grant from his intended operations against the
rebel left. The attack was made at about daylight, and lasted till noon.
Kautz’s cavalry, posted on the Central road, was first assailed, and a
simultaneous charge was made against the line of the Tenth corps,
commanded by General Birney, who took the field on this occasion,
although ill, and suffering severely from malarious fever. The rebel
divisions engaged were those of Field and Hoke.
Their first movement was, in a measure, successful. They succeeded in
almost surrounding Kautz’s cavalry, and driving it back, in a sort of
panic, to the rear, where however, it was immediately rallied.
The artillery in this fight,—Battery B of the First United States, and
the Fifth Wisconsin Battery,—did efficient service, and was handled with
great skill and courage. Colonel Sumner’s New York Mounted Rifles also
distinguished themselves by a bold stand, to cover the confusion of
Kautz’s retreat, and enable General Birney to seasonably perfect his
line of battle. At ten o’clock the rebels made a determined assault on
Birney’s line, and the battle became general. Artillery was employed
with great effect, and the loss in this branch of the service was
uncommonly severe, attesting the fury of the rebel attack. Battery E of
the Third United States Artillery, lost three men killed, and nine
wounded, and fourteen horses killed. Battery D of the First United
States lost one man killed, and four wounded, and ten horses killed.
Battery C of the Third Rhode Island, and the Fifth New Jersey Battery
also suffered severe losses. But the brunt of the battle was borne by
the Second Brigade—in the centre—upon which the rebels made their most
desperate and pertinacious attack. They were met by a destructive fire
from a line of carbineers, which, falling back, gave place to another
line, from which the fire was even more deadly. Still the enemy pressed
over piles of his own dead and wounded, and still the fire of the
carbineers continued, the woods being resonant with the continuous
rattle and roar of musketry. At last, baffled and utterly routed, the
rebels gave up their enterprise, and retreated—only stopping when safe
within their works along the James river, and in Richmond. General Grant
computed the Union loss in this engagement at about three hundred; and
the rebel loss at upwards of one thousand. In effect, the Union forces
repulsed a formidable attack, which, had it succeeded, would have cost
them the loss of very strong and important works, and an advanced
position beyond Deep Bottom. But the rebel movement utterly failed, nor
was General Grant for a moment deterred in his proposed operations
against the rebel left. The Confederate General Gregg was killed in this
battle, and several other rebel officers of distinction were wounded.
About one hundred and fifty prisoners were captured by the Union forces.
THE BATTLES OF HATCHER’S RUN.
OCTOBER 27, 1864-FEBRUARY 5–7, 1865.
Operations against the rebel position at Hatcher’s Run were among the
most important incidents of the siege of Petersburg. Their object was to
extend the National lines on the left, and, of course, to sever railway
communication with the beleaguered city. An attack on the enemy’s works
at this point was made on the 27th of October, 1864, the Second and
Fifth corps participating. But the battle was comparatively trivial in
extent and in attendant losses. The rebel pickets and cavalry were
driven inside of the main work, and the National forces captured seven
loaded teams, and between seventy-five and one hundred prisoners. Each
party lost about two hundred men. The result of this engagement was to
extend the Union line from Armstrong’s Mill, along the south bank of
Hatcher’s Creek, to a point where Hatcher’s Creek intersects the Boydton
plank road.
To beat the rebels back from this position, and to destroy the Southside
railroad, was an object with General Grant throughout this campaign.
That railroad was, as it were, the main artery of Lee’s army. Many
attempts were made to destroy it, some of which, as has been heretofore
shown, resulted in doing it temporary injury.
A further attempt to carry the rebel works at Hatcher’s Run was made on
Sunday, the 5th of February, 1865. The Fifth and Second corps, as
before, were engaged, the entire movement being led by General Warren.
Early on the morning of the 5th, being Sunday, the march began. General
Gregg’s cavalry led the way, followed by the troops of the Fifth corps,
along the Halifax road, in the direction of Reams’s Station. At the same
time a covering movement was commenced, to blind the enemy as to the
advance of the Fifth corps. This consisted in an advance of the Second
corps, preceded by the Third Pennsylvania cavalry, Major Hess, along the
Vaughn road towards Hatcher’s Run. It was an uncommonly bright and
beautiful day, and the spirits of the soldiers seemed correspondingly
cheerful.
The first object of the march of the Second corps by the Vaughn road was
to cover the movement of the Fifth corps. About midday the head of the
Second corps column reached Hatcher’s Run. Finding the enemy intrenched,
the Third Pennsylvania cavalry essayed to carry the ford, but found the
enemy too strong, and was driven back. The First brigade, Third
division, was next ordered up and deployed, facing the ford. The
Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania, Colonel Biles commanding, immediately
advanced across the Run, scattering the enemy and driving him back under
cover of the wood. The cavalry now gave pursuit, followed by the
infantry, and the line of the Third division was advanced about a mile,
occupying the summit of a hill, upon which they commenced the erection
of fieldworks. During the progress of these demonstrative operations on
the part of the Third division, the Second division struck off through
an untravelled road to the right, towards Armstrong’s ford. The head of
the column, composed of the Nineteenth Massachusetts, encountered the
enemy near the run, and, with the assistance of the Tenth New York,
compelled them to withdraw across the stream. This success effected a
junction of the two divisions, and the whole line of the Second corps
was arrayed in order of battle to meet any offensive movement on the
part of the enemy.
Late in the afternoon the rebels opened a brisk fire of artillery,
without, however, eliciting a reply. Emboldened by this silence, their
infantry, preceded by a heavy skirmish line, advanced in line of battle.
The National troops permitted them to come within easy range, when they
opened a severe fire of musketry, which caused the line to fall back in
considerable disorder. The enemy, not disheartened, repeated his attempt
to dislodge the Federals, and met with a similar repulse. The flank
movement was then attempted, with no better success. Colonel Matthew
Murphy, of the Sixty-ninth New York, commanding the Second brigade, held
the right of the line, his own right flank resting on a swamp. As the
enemy approached he greeted him with an effective shower of bullets,
which caused him to break and retreat out of range. Soon after dark,
having been thwarted in every effort to break the continuity of the
lines, the enemy withdrew to his fortifications. The Second brigade of
the Second division and the Third brigade of the Third division bore the
brunt of the day’s fighting. The officers and men throughout bore
themselves nobly. General Humphreys in person superintended the
operations of the corps. Among the wounded was Colonel Murphy,
commanding the Second brigade, Third division. The sum of the day’s
losses, in the Second corps, was about ninety.
While the Second corps was thus engaging the attention of the rebels, on
the Vaughn road, the Fifth corps pressed on toward Reams’s Station.
After a march of six miles the advance reached Rowanty creek. Videttes
and flying parties could be seen hovering mysteriously on the front,
taking observations, and then suddenly disappearing. The troops,
however, had, thus far encountered no opposition. The Rowanty creek is
about twenty feet wide, and not conveniently fordable. The old bridge
was no longer in existence. The column was accordingly delayed for a
short time, while the pioneers constructed a temporary bridge. The men
worked with difficulty, and, though covered by a detachment of light
infantry, the sharpshooters of the enemy harassed them from the cover of
the wooded banks. Their impromptu bridge having been completed, in order
to secure a lodgment beyond the stream and protect the construction of
bridges for the passage of the whole force, the Third brigade, Second
division, Brevet Brigadier-General Gwynn commanding, advanced in column,
on a trot, across the bridge. The opposite bank was steep and difficult
of ascent, and, a short distance beyond, rifle pits obscured a line of
riflemen. Undaunted by these uncertainties, Gwynn urged his men forward.
A scattering fire ensued, and, in a few minutes after, the patriots
occupied the rifle pits of the enemy, and quiet was restored. General
Gwynn lost but one man. The enemy lost several, besides twenty-two
prisoners.
In the mean time, the cavalry of General Gregg, piloted by a negro, had
ridden onward, and entered Dinwiddie, capturing a rebel train and mail.
From Dinwiddie the cavalry returned and took position in the rear of
Warren’s forces, two miles from Hatcher’s Run.
The losses, on the first day, were about two hundred. Both corps had
secured a position beyond Hatcher’s Run.
Thus affairs stood, on the 6th inst., when the conflict was renewed. The
positions were: Second corps on the right, Fifth corps on the left,
cavalry parties in front. The lines were covered by hasty breastworks,
timber, and the roads filled with mud. The morning was spent in
strengthening the defences and corduroying roads. Generals De Trobriand
and McAllister, of the Second corps, made a reconnoissance and developed
the fact that there was no force between the new lines and the old works
below Petersburg. The Fifth corps passed the morning in taking positions
of attack. General Meade was on the field. Early in the afternoon the
enemy disclosed a column moving towards the right.
At noon the Third division, Fifth corps, moved to the right from the
Duncan road toward the Boydton plank road. The skirmishers were soon
engaged, and a running fight ensued, the main body following up closely
as the enemy retired. In the vicinity of Dabney’s mill the enemy took
position under cover of temporary works. From these he was soon
dislodged. The two lines now engaged in an irregular interchange of
bullets through the timber in front. On the part of the enemy the fire
gradually grew more continuous and heavy. It now became evident that he
was strengthening his lines for a determined stand, and an offensive
strike at the proper moment. It was five o’clock, P. M. To prepare for
emergencies, Ayres’ division was ordered up to the support of Crawford,
and while moving in column was suddenly assailed, in large force, and
driven back. At the same time a brigade of Griffin’s division moved to
the support of Gregg’s cavalry. Subsequent movements of the enemy
developed an intention to cut off Crawford. A column of the enemy was
swung around to envelop him. Crawford, simultaneously, was heavily
engaged on his front.
At six P. M. comparative order prevailed, and preparations were made to
receive the enemy, who, it was evident, felt no disposition to abandon a
slight advantage he had secured. Gregg, during this time, was fighting
his cavalry on foot, and held his own on the Vaughn road against
Mahone’s division.
The enemy had already engaged Pegram’s, Gordon’s and Heth’s divisions.
Mahone, unable to gain any advantage over Gregg, suddenly withdrew in a
northwesterly direction, and fell upon the left of the Fifth corps. The
flank resisted for a moment, but to no avail. It was crumbled on the
centre. The ammunition of part of Crawford’s division at this critical
moment became exhausted. This portion of the line broke off, and in a
few minutes the entire line became a wreck. The Third division
(Wheaton’s) of the Sixth corps, which left its camp that morning,
crossed Hatcher’s run during the height of Crawford’s confusion, and
also lost its self-possession. The fighting now became desultory but
desperate, and both forces entered into the work in earnest—as a matter
of life or death. The country between Hatcher’s run and the mill is
covered with a heavy wood, the ground softened by numerous swamps and
cut up by ravines. The road upon which the columns and trains were
obliged to move was narrow, filled with stumps, and, above all,
knee-deep with mud. A slight crust of frozen surface only multiplied the
difficulties. The column moved forward with the most exhausting
exertions, and, instead of being fresh for battle, was used up by its
conflict with the mud. The men lost their shoes, their clothing was
dampened, and their arms in many instances were rendered unfit for
immediate use. The artillery and trains suffered more than the men.
Animals tossed about in their useless exertions to extricate themselves
and their burdens. This being the case, the operations of the troops off
the road were infinitely worse. The ground was fresh. The timber was
thick and netted with a web of undergrowth. As the men advanced through
this maze many were laid low by the deliberate fire of an unseen
musketeer or rifleman. When they retired the roads and the woods were
alive with disorder. The lines were much broken in the advance; it would
be impossible to convey the formations on the retreat. The men fought
single-handed through the timber from tree to tree. Their alarm was
greatly increased by fear of being intercepted on their rear. No efforts
on the part of officers could stay the men. They were unmanageable. They
were determined to abandon the wood, and only upon reaching the open
country on the Vaughn road and finding the bridges all entire and the
guards perfectly calm, did they recover their presence of mind. The
lines were hastily reformed, and, under protection of the temporary
works thrown up by the Third division of the Second corps the day
before, the men awaited the onslaught of the enemy. A few minutes of
suspense and their anticipations were realized. The skirmishers fell
back hastily. The woods in front were soon bristling with bayonets, and
the enemy dashed undaunted upon the cleared space in front. From their
works the Fifth corps met him with a terrible fire. The opposition was
trifling. The enemy made no persistent effort to carry the works. He
soon withdrew, and was lost in the obscurity of the wood.
During the action of the Fifth corps the left of the Second corps
sustained and repelled an attack near the Armstrong House, on the Duncan
road.
The Union losses, on the second day, were upwards of eleven hundred men,
killed, wounded, and missing. The enemy’s loss was equally heavy. One
hundred and eighty rebel prisoners were taken.
* * * * *
On the 7th, a reconnoissance of Crawford’s division encountered the
rebels, about half a mile from the Union bivouac. The division now
deployed in line, the right on Hatcher’s run and the left supported by
Wheaton’s division of the Sixth corps. The whole line felt its way
carefully. The enemy soon discovered himself in force. The conflict
which ensued was spirited, but brief. The enemy gave way, though
contesting his ground with vigor, and finally took up his position in
the works at Dabney’s mill. The two forces indulged in a spirited
exchange of musketry. The enemy evinced no desire to repeat the assault
of the day before, and at night Crawford rejoined the main body on the
Vaughn road.
During the next few days the National lines were greatly strengthened
throughout the territory of Hatcher’s Run, which had thus been gained
and occupied. The dense woods were converted into hostile defences, and
the Union line was extended, in safety and strength, over a distance of
five miles.
CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN. BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS, VA.
APRIL 1–3, 1865.
In March, 1865, General Canby was moving an adequate force against
Mobile and the army defending it, under General Dick Taylor; Thomas was
pushing out two large and well appointed cavalry expeditions—one from
Middle Tennessee under Brevet Major-General Wilson against the enemy’s
vital points in Alabama, the other from East Tennessee under
Major-General Stoneman towards Lynchburg—and assembling the remainder of
his available forces, preparatory to offensive operations from East
Tennessee; General Sheridan’s cavalry was at White House; the armies of
the Potomac and James were confronting the enemy under Lee in his
defences of Richmond and Petersburg; General Sherman with his armies
reinforced by that of General Schofield, was at Goldsboro’; General Pope
was making preparations for a spring campaign against the enemy under
Kirby Smith and Price, west of the Mississippi; and General Hancock was
concentrating a force in the vicinity of Winchester, Virginia, to guard
against invasion or to operate offensively, as might prove necessary.
The progress and results of the various movements are elsewhere
described. This narrative now concerns itself with the final blow—the
battle and Union victory of Five Forks.
General Grant commenced his final operations on the 29th of March.
Sheridan’s cavalry, from White House, had joined the army of the Potomac
on the 27th. This force was immediately pushed up to Dinwiddie Court
House, and the Union line, on the left, was extended to the Quaker road,
near its intersection with the Boydton plank road. The position of the
troops, from left to right, was as follows: Sheridan, Warren, Humphreys,
Ord, Wright, Parke.
From the night of the 29th to the morning of the 31st the rain fell in
such torrents as to make it impossible to move wheeled vehicles, except
as corduroy roads were laid in front of them. During the 30th Sheridan
advanced from Dinwiddie Court House towards Five Forks, where he found
the enemy in force. General Warren advanced and extended his line across
the Boydton plank road to near the White Oak road, with a view of
getting across the latter; but finding the enemy strong in his front and
extending beyond his left, was directed to hold on where he was and
fortify. General Humphreys drove the enemy from his front into his main
line on the Hatcher, near Burgess’s mills. Generals Ord, Wright, and
Parke made examinations in their fronts to determine the feasibility of
an assault on the enemy’s lines. The two latter reported favorably.
General Grant now determined to extend his line no further, but to
reinforce General Sheridan’s cavalry with an infantry force, enable him
to cut loose and turn the enemy’s right flank, and with the other corps
assault the enemy’s lines. The proximity of the belligerent lines
particularly favored this movement. The lines, indeed, were so close
together at some points that it was but a moment’s run from one to the
other. Preparations were at once made to relieve General Humphrey’s
corps, to report to General Sheridan; but the condition of the roads
prevented immediate movement. On the morning of the 31st General Warren
reported favorably to getting possession of the White Oak road, and was
directed to do so. To accomplish this he moved with one division,
instead of his whole corps, which was attacked by the enemy in superior
force and driven back on the second division before it had time to form,
and it, in turn was forced back upon the third division, when the enemy
was checked. A division of the Second corps was immediately sent to his
support, the enemy driven back with heavy loss, and possession of the
White Oak road gained. The Union losses were about one thousand.
Sheridan, meantime, had advanced from Dinwiddie, and got possession of
the Five Forks, but the enemy after the affair with the Fifth corps,
reinforced the rebel cavalry, defending that point with infantry, and
forced him back towards Dinwiddie Court House. Here General Sheridan
displayed great generalship. Instead of retreating with his whole
command on the main army, to tell the story of superior forces
encountered, he deployed his cavalry on foot, leaving only mounted men
enough to take charge of the horses. This compelled the enemy to deploy
over a vast extent of woods and broken country, and made his progress
slow. General Grant was immediately notified respecting the position of
affairs, and he at once sent General McKenzie’s cavalry and one division
of the Fifth corps to Sheridan’s assistance. Two other divisions of the
Fifth corps were subsequently sent forward to swell that officer’s
force. On the morning of the 1st of April, General Sheridan, thus
reinforced, drove the enemy back on Five Forks, where, late in the
evening, he assaulted and carried his strongly fortified position,
capturing all his artillery and between five thousand and six thousand
prisoners.
During the night of the 14th of April a steady bombardment of the
enemy’s lines was kept up by General Sheridan, whose troops were further
reinforced by General Miles’s division of Humphrey’s corps. At four
o’clock on the morning of the 2nd of April, an assault was ordered on
the rebel line. General Wright led the charge, and, with his whole
corps, broke through the enemy’s defences, sweeping everything before
him and to his left towards Hatcher’s Run, capturing many guns and
several thousand prisoners. He was closely followed by two divisions of
General Ord’s command, until he met the other division of General Ord’s
that had succeeded in forcing the enemy’s lines near Hatcher’s Run.
Generals Wright and Ord immediately swung to the right, and closed all
of the enemy on that side of them in Petersburg, while General Humphreys
pushed forward with two divisions and joined General Wright on the left.
General Parke succeeded in carrying the enemy’s main line, capturing
guns and prisoners, but was unable to carry his inner line. General
Sheridan being advised of the condition of affairs, returned General
Miles to his proper command. On reaching the enemy’s lines immediately
surrounding Petersburg, a portion of General Gibbon’s corps, by a most
gallant charge, captured two strong, enclosed works—the most salient and
commanding south of Petersburg—thus materially shortening the line of
investment necessary for taking in the city. The enemy south of
Hatcher’s Run retreated westward to Sutherland’s Station, where they
were overtaken by Miles’s division. A severe engagement ensued and
lasted until both right and left rebel flanks were threatened by the
approach of General Sheridan, who was moving from Ford’s Station towards
Petersburg, and a division sent by General Meade from the front of
Petersburg. Then the enemy broke, in the utmost confusion, leaving his
guns and many prisoners in the hands of the Unionists, and retreated by
the main road along the Appomattox river. Thus the rout of the rebels
was complete, and nothing now remained to the National forces but to
reap the fruits of their glorious victory.
SHERIDAN’S EXPEDITION IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY, VA.
FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 19, 1865.
In the month of February, 1865, before any important movement of the
armies operating against Richmond had taken place, General Grant deemed
it essential that all railroad communication with the city north of
James river should be cut off. At that time the enemy had withdrawn the
bulk of his troops from the Shenandoah valley, to strengthen the forces
then in opposition to Sherman. The cavalry force of that commander was
then far inferior to that of Johnson; and in order to assist Sherman as
well as to destroy the lines of communication and supplies of Lee’s
army, General Sheridan, then at Winchester, was instructed to undertake
an expedition, for the double purpose contemplated. On the 20th of
February General Grant telegraphed to him as follows:
“CITY POINT, VA., February 20, 1865—1 P. M.